Soap dispenser



Dec. 11, 1934. L, BENNETT 1,983,527

SOAP DISPENSER Filed March 18, 1953 ,3; ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED p STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to soap dispensers, and more particularly to a dispenser adapted to deliver small particles of hard soap, as distinguished from liquid soap, in small quantities over a large area.

It has long been recognized that the use of soap in cake form in public lavatories is not only unsanitary, but also extremely wasteful. To correct these conditions, a common practice is to utilize a dispenser for liquid soaps, or adispenser adapted to receive a cake of soap, having a shaving wheel actuated by a hand crank, and a casing provided with an outlet of small capacity located centrally of the bottom of the casing so that the discharged granular soap is delivered at one spot upon the hand of the user Where subsequent moistening tends to make it plastic and cause it to adhere to the hand. The latter mechanism requires the use of both hands in its operation, and there is a tendency toward wastage of the soap through the actuation of the shaving mechanism for too long a period.

With the above conditions in mind, I have provided a dispenser adapted for general lavatory and household use embodying a receptacle capable of being filled with flake or chip soap, this receptacle having a bottom provided with aplurality of openings sowidely dispersed as to ensure a wide distribution of small particles of soap as a result of the agitation of the mass of soap adja-' cent the bottom of the receptacle. The openings through the bottom of the receptacle are of a size to retain the flakes or chips of soap with which the receptacle is charged, unless agitated in a manner to cause the breaking up or comminution of the individual flakes or chips to reduce them in volume sufliciently to permit them to fall through the openings into the palm of the hand of the user.

Within the receptacle, I provide suitable agitating blades adapted to be actuated by upward movement of a plunger projecting from the bottom of the receptacle, said bottom being provided with inwardly presented projections preventing circular movement by the blades of the entire mass of soap within the receptacle and co-operating with the blades in breaking up, or comminuting, the individual flakes or chips in sufficient number to cause the delivery, with each actuation of the plunger and of the blades, of an adequate supply of soap.

The construction of the receptacle'and of the agitating mechanism is such as to permit the charging of the receptacle by merely removing the cover of the receptacle.

In a dispenser embodying the invention, I may also provide means by which the quantity of the soap particles delivered with each: actuation of the agitating blades may be controlled to avoid wastage of the flake or chip soap.

The'construction and arrangement oi parts is such as to permit the economical. production of the dispenser, although low cost of production. is of secondary importance as compared with the avoidance of wastage of soap and the provision of a proper sanitary condition resulting from the use of the container.

The invention consists primarily in a soapdispenser embodyingtherein a receptacle, a bottom therefor'having a plurality of upwardly directed projections and a plurality of widely dispersed openings therethrough intermediate said projections, an agitator within said receptacle adjacent said projections and mounted to have rotary movement in aplane parallel with said bottom, actuatingmeans therefor comprising a member mounted for vertical movement in the bottom of the receptacle, and. co-operating members carried by the agitator and by said vertically movable member, and means exposed ext'eriorly of said bottom operative upon said vertically movable member; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinalter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a. soap dispenser embodying the invention;

, Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and "Fig. 3 is a section onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

v In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, I employ a receptacle provided witha bracket or other suitable means '11 whereby it maybe supported. This receptacle is provided with a bottom 12, secured to said receptacle bya lap joint 13, or in any other desired manner, forming a tight joint between these parts.

' The bottom 12 is provided with a plurality of radially extending, upwardly directed projections 14 spaced in relation to each other as shown inv the drawing, the length, number and spacing of these projections not being essential to a successful operation of the device.

Intermediate said projections 14 are a plurality of openings 15 extending through the bottom 12. These openings are widely dispensed, as shown, so as to permit the escape of small particles of soap throughout a wide area and thus prevent the accumulation of any substantial quantity of soap particles at any one point upon the palm of the hand of the user.

Within the receptacle. 10 is an agitator or wiper consisting of radially extending arms 16 and 17 having downwardly directed blades 18 extending adjacent the plane of. the top of the projections 14,. but spaced therefrom a distance to avoid contact therewith. In fact, in actual practice, I have found that of an inch from by spacing these blades about T the projections 14, a satisfactory soap can be accomplished.

The agitator or wiper arms 16 and 1'7 are formed integrallywith, or carried by, a hollow shaft 19, the upper end of which is mounted in a bearing fitting 20, and the lower end of which is supported by a movable bushing 21 resting upon the bottom 12 of the receptacle. The length-of this bushing is such as to secure the desired spacing of the agitator or wiper blades 18" from the projections 1a.

The agitator or wiper blades are adapted to re-- ceive direct and reverse rotative movement by an actuating means comprising inwardly directed spline. teeth 22, formed upon or carried by the hollow shaft 19 as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawing, which co-operate with a reciprocatory plunger 23 having spiral grooves 24 therein. This plunger 23 is slidable'in the hollow shaft 19 and is acted upon by a restoring spring 25ipositioned between the end of the plunger and. the bearing fltting'20.

The plunger 23 is provided with means, exposed exteriorly of the bottom 12, consisting of a stem 26 having a hand pusher knob 27 at the exposed end thereof to facilitate the actuation of the plunger to cause rotative movement of the agitator or wiper blades.

To ensure a direct lineal reciprocatory movement of the plunger 23, I provide the bottom 12 with a bearing nipple 28, this nipple and the stem 26 being so flattened, as indicated at 29 and 30 respectively, as to, secure the eifect of a spline in controlling the movement of said stem. This arrangement also provides a shoulder at 31 limiting movement of the plunger 23 by the spring 25.

Adjacent the top of the receptacle 10, I provide a fitting 32 extending diametrically across the receptable, but leaving sufficient space at the opposite sides thereof to permit the passageof flake or chip soap when charging the receptacle there-v with, This cross fitting serves as a support for the upper thrust bearing fitting 20' receiving one end of the hollow shaft 19, saidbearing fitting being secured in relation to said fitting by the lock nut 33.

The volume of soap particles delivered is determined largely by the degree of rotative movement of the agitator or wiper blades 18, so that it is desirable to provide means whereby such movement maybe varied, or determined, as desired, according to the conditions of use of the dispenser. This can be done by limiting the length of movement of the plunger 23, by means of an adjustable stop screw 34 mountedin the bearing fltting 20.

The receptacle 10 is closed by a slip cover 35, or any other desired removable closure means which will exclude moisture from the interior. of the receptacle 10.

All parts of the dispenser, excepting the plunger 23, stem 26, hand pusher knob 27, thrust bearing 20, stop member 34 and lock nut- 33, may be made of sheet metal formed to provide the necessary co-operating parts. This is highly desirable from a manufacturing standpoint, since it not only permits the economic production of the article, but ensures such uniformity in the various elementsas will facilitate the assembling thereof.

The operation of the herein described dispenser is substantially as follows-:---- 7 The receptacle 10 may be filled with flake or chip soap by removing the cover 35 and pouring said soap from the originalpackage into the receptacle until it is completely filled. The cover is then'replaced so as to exclude moisture from the receptacle and avoid the caking of the flakes or chips.

In operating the device, it is merely necessary for the user to push the stem 26 upwardly by contact of the palm of the hand with the knob 2'7. This upward movement; through the spiral grooves or threads 24 and the spline teeth 22, will impart rotative movement to the hollow shaft 19, the arms 16 and 17 and the agitator or wiper blades 18.

Such movementof the agitator or wiper blades imparts movement to the flakes or chips adjacent same and between the blades and the bottom 12, to a limited extent, and will break up or comminute a certain percentage of said flakes or chips due to the presence of the upwardly extending projections 14. The greater the turning movement of the blades, the more pronounced will be this action. The movement of the flakes or chips within the container will'also tend to force small particles through the openings 15, although a certain percentage of such small particles will fall by gravity through said openings. Such agitation of the flakes or chips, contiguous to the bottom 12, exposes the openings in a manner to permit these small particles to pass therethrough in the manner above described.

Usually, the user will retain his hand in engagement with the knob 27 during the full inward movement of the plunger 23 and stem 26, and also during the full outward movement of these members by the spring 25. During this outward movement, the hollow shaft 19, arms 16 and 17 and blades 13 will receive reverse reciprocatory movement and cause the delivery of a further amount of the soap particles.

It has been found necessary, in order to secure the desired breaking up or comminution of the soap flakes or chips, to maintain the lower edge of the agitator or wiper blades 18 at a distance from the bottom 12 which will prevent their engagement at all times with the tops of the upwardly directed projections 14. As stated above, excellent results are secured by spacing the lower edges of these blades about 's of an inch from the tops of the projections.

I have also found it desirable to use a plurality of radially extending projections of a length to be spaced from the bushing 21 and from the wall of the receptacle, as shown in the drawing, and to so arrange the openings 15 as to bring them within a band of substantially the same width as the length of said projections.

With the gradual delivery of the broken up or comminuted flakes or chips through the openings 15, the entire volume of the chips remaining in the receptacle will descend by gravity, so as to always have a sufficient quantity of the flakes or chips within the operative range of the blades 18 and the projections 14 until the contents of the receptacle have been practically exhausted.

The thrust bearing 20 prevents any lift of the blades 18, and the bushing 21 prevents any downward movementof the blades, so that the arms 16 and 17 and blades 18 always turn in the same horizontal plane; parallel with the bottom 12 and the tops of the projections 14. Y

To control the quantity of particles delivered, it is merely necessary to raise or lower the stop screw 34. As shown in the drawing, the setting of the stop-screw is such as to permit themaximum rotative movement of the blades 13. By

screwing the stop screw 34 inwardly of the receptacle, the amount of the rotative movement of said blades may be reduced.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawing, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A soap dispenser embodying therein a receptacle, a bottom therefor having a plurality of upwardly directed projections and a plurality of Widely dispersed openings therethrough intermediate said projections, an agitator within said receptacle adjacent said projections and mounted to have rotary movement in a plane parallel with said bottom, actuating means therefor comprising a member mounted for vertical movement in the bottom of the receptacle, and co-operating members carried by the agitator and by said vertically movable member, and means exposed exteriorly of said bottom operative upon said vertically movable member.

2. A soap dispenser embodying therein a receptacle, a bottom therefor having a plurality of upwardly directed projections and a plurality of widely dispersed openings therethrough intermediate said projections, an agitator within said receptacle adjacent said projections and mounted to have rotary movement in a plane parallel with said bottom, actuating means therefor, means exposed exteriorly of said bottom operative upon said actuating means to permit the manual operation of said agitator in one direction, and a spring operative upon said actuating means'to impart movement to said agitator in the opposite direction.

3. A soap dispenser embodying therein a receptacle, a bottom therefor having a plurality of upwardly directed projections and a plurality of Widely dispersed openings therethrough intermediate said projections, an agitator within said receptacle adjacent said projections and mounted to have rotary movement in a plane parallel with said bottom, actuating means therefor comprising a member mounted for vertical movement in the bottom of the receptacle, and co-operating members carried by the agitator and by said vertically movable member, means exposed exteriorly of said bottom operative upon said vertically movable member, and adjustable means whereby the operative movement of said vertically movable member may be varied to control the extent of rotary movement of the agitator.

4. A soap dispenser embodying therein a receptacle, a bottom therefor having a plurality of upwardly directed projections and a plurality of widely dispersed openings therethrough intermediate said projections, a vertically extending hollow shaft within said receptacle, a bearing for the upper end thereof, agitator blades carried by said shaft adjacent and substantially parallel with the bottom of said receptacle in spaced 00- operating relation to said projections, a plunger slidably mounted within said shaft, a co-operating spiral groove and spline tooth upon said plunger and said shaft respectively, a spring within said shaft acting upon said plunger, a bearing in said bottom in substantial axial alinement with said shaft, and a non-rotary stem carried by said plunger mounted in said bearing and exposed exteriorly of the bottom of said receptacle.

5. A soap dispenser embodying therein a receptacle, a bottom therefor having a plurality of upwardly directed projections and a plurality of widely dispersed openings therethrough intermediate said projections, a hollow shaft, a bearing for the upper end thereof, agitator blades carried by said shaft adjacent the bottom of said receptacle in spaced co-operating relation to said projections, a plunger slidably mounted within said shaft, a co-operating spiral groove and spline tooth upon said plunger and said shaftrespectively, a spring within said shaft acting upon said plunger, 2, non-rotary stem carried by said plunger and exposed exteriorly of the bottom of said receptacle, and a stop member projecting within said hollow shaft and adjustably mounted in relation to said plunger, whereby the maximum movement of said plunger may be varied to control the extent of rotary movement of said shaft and said blades.

6. A soap dispenser embodying therein a receptacle, a bottom therefor having a plurality of upwardly directed projections and a plurality of widely dispersed openings therethrough intermediate said projections, a hollow shaft, a bearing for the upper end thereof, agitator blades carried by said shaft adjacent the bottom of said receptacle, a bushing supporting the lower end of said hollow shaft whereby said agitator blades are maintained in spaced co-operating relation to said projections, a plunger slidably mounted within said shaft, a co-operating spiral groove and spline tooth upon said plunger and said shaft respectively, a spring within said shaft acting upon said plunger, and a non-rotary stem carried by said plunger and exposed exteriorly of the bottom of said receptacle.

7. A soap dispenser embodying therein a receptacle, a bottom therefor having a plurality of upwardly directed projections and a plurality of widely dispersed openings therethrough intermediate said projections, a hollow shaft, a bearing for the upper end thereof, agitator blades carried by said shaft adjacent the bottom of said receptacle, a bushing supporting the lower end of said hollow shaft whereby said agitator blades are maintained in spaced co-operating relation to said projections, a plunger slidably mounted within said shaft, a co-operating spiral groove and spline tooth upon said plunger and said shaft respectively, a spring within said shaft acting upon said plunger, a non-rotary stem carried by said plunger and exposed exteriorly of the bottom of said receptacle, and a stop member projecting within said hollow shaft and adjustably mounted in relation to said plunger, whereby the maximum movement of said plunger may be varied to control the extent of rotary movement of said shaft and said blades.

8. A soap dispenser embodying therein a receptacle, a bottom therefor having a plurality of upwardly directed projections and a plurality of widely dispersed openings therethrough intermediate said projections, a hollow shaft, a. bearing for the upper end thereof, agitator blades carried by said shaft adjacent the bottom of said receptacle in spaced co-operating relation to said projections, a plunger slidably mounted within said shaft,'a co-operating spiral groove and spline tooth upon said plunger and said shaft respectively, a spring within said shaft acting upon said plunger, a flattened nipple projecting downwardly from said bottom, and a flattened stem carried by said plunger passing through said nipple and exposed exteriorly of the bottom of said receptacle.

GEORGE L. BENNETT. 

